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Oregon footballtransfer tight ends Andrew Olesh and Markus Dixon have taken markedly different paths to eventually joining the 2026 Ducks roster.
Both started their football journeys in Pennsylvania, where Olesh made waves as a top-75 recruit from Center Valley and Dixon starred in Warminster as a three-star prospect. Dixon, who enrolled at Clemson out of high school and moved to the defensive line last year, and Olesh, who redshirted last season as a freshman at Penn State, both saw an opportunity to compete for a championship contender at Oregon.
And both bring completely different skillsets and experience to the Ducks.
"There’s a lot of opportunity," Olesh said. "Just look at the tight ends who’ve came through Oregon, who’ve developed here … you’ve got a lot of different guys. It gives me confidence to where if you come here and do what you need to do and you develop, you’ll be a really good tight end."
Outside returning star Jamari Johnson, who has received first-round 2027 NFL Draft billing this offseason, the Ducks don't have much returning from last season at tight end, leaving the door open for Olesh and Dixon to carve out early roles.
Where Dixon's experience at defensive line and his size lend strength in the run game and blocking, Olesh worked as a route runner and receiver in high school and has been growing into his big frame.
With both arriving at the same time, Dixon mentioned Olesh has helped him adjust back to the offensive side of the ball at his natural position of tight end after giving Clemson depth on defense last year.
"I think Andrew is a great route runner, I’ve learned from Andrew myself," Dixon said. "Learning from a guy who is a crisp route runner, there’s no shame in my game. Older, younger, it's really a great learning moment for me."
On the opposite end, Olesh says he's learned how to be more physical in the run game thanks to Dixon and Johnson's wisdom in the spring. Weighing in around 200 pounds when he walked on to campus at Penn State and up to 230 by the time he left, Olesh said he wants to get closer to 245 and play with more physicality in the run game.
"He’s obviously a really good blocker and I’m gonna do a lot of stuff that I like from his game and implement it into mine and vice versa," Olesh said of Dixon. "At the end of the day, the tight end room is really competitive and we’re always pushing each other to get better and better every day. We just want to do anything we can to help Oregon win football games."
The Ducks almost assuredly need one, if not both players to step up and play immediately in 2026. Johnson returns, as does reserve A.J. Pugliano, but every other player is new. Pugliano has also not appeared in a game for the Ducks entering his third season.
Both Olesh and Dixon said they'd do whatever was needed to help the Ducks win football games, and with a pair of diverse skillsets, that's exactly what new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer needs.
"I’m expecting just to come in and contribute wherever is needed," Dixon said. "I feel as though me being here is truly a blessing. Whatever I have to do at a high caliber level, I’ll do it."
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football and women’s basketball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Andrew Olesh, Markus Dixon learning together in Oregon tight end room
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Both started their football journeys in Pennsylvania, where Olesh made waves as a top-75 recruit from Center Valley and Dixon starred in Warminster as a three-star prospect. Dixon, who enrolled at Clemson out of high school and moved to the defensive line last year, and Olesh, who redshirted last season as a freshman at Penn State, both saw an opportunity to compete for a championship contender at Oregon.
And both bring completely different skillsets and experience to the Ducks.
"There’s a lot of opportunity," Olesh said. "Just look at the tight ends who’ve came through Oregon, who’ve developed here … you’ve got a lot of different guys. It gives me confidence to where if you come here and do what you need to do and you develop, you’ll be a really good tight end."
Outside returning star Jamari Johnson, who has received first-round 2027 NFL Draft billing this offseason, the Ducks don't have much returning from last season at tight end, leaving the door open for Olesh and Dixon to carve out early roles.
Where Dixon's experience at defensive line and his size lend strength in the run game and blocking, Olesh worked as a route runner and receiver in high school and has been growing into his big frame.
With both arriving at the same time, Dixon mentioned Olesh has helped him adjust back to the offensive side of the ball at his natural position of tight end after giving Clemson depth on defense last year.
"I think Andrew is a great route runner, I’ve learned from Andrew myself," Dixon said. "Learning from a guy who is a crisp route runner, there’s no shame in my game. Older, younger, it's really a great learning moment for me."
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On the opposite end, Olesh says he's learned how to be more physical in the run game thanks to Dixon and Johnson's wisdom in the spring. Weighing in around 200 pounds when he walked on to campus at Penn State and up to 230 by the time he left, Olesh said he wants to get closer to 245 and play with more physicality in the run game.
"He’s obviously a really good blocker and I’m gonna do a lot of stuff that I like from his game and implement it into mine and vice versa," Olesh said of Dixon. "At the end of the day, the tight end room is really competitive and we’re always pushing each other to get better and better every day. We just want to do anything we can to help Oregon win football games."
The Ducks almost assuredly need one, if not both players to step up and play immediately in 2026. Johnson returns, as does reserve A.J. Pugliano, but every other player is new. Pugliano has also not appeared in a game for the Ducks entering his third season.
Both Olesh and Dixon said they'd do whatever was needed to help the Ducks win football games, and with a pair of diverse skillsets, that's exactly what new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer needs.
"I’m expecting just to come in and contribute wherever is needed," Dixon said. "I feel as though me being here is truly a blessing. Whatever I have to do at a high caliber level, I’ll do it."
You must be registered for see images attach
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football and women’s basketball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Andrew Olesh, Markus Dixon learning together in Oregon tight end room
Continue reading...
